NBC's Lauer Hopes for Obama 'Escape Hatch' on Syria, So He Can 'Save Face Politically'

On Monday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer and chief White
House correspondent Chuck Todd engaged in a strategy session over how
President Obama could minimize any political damage from Congress voting
down a strike on Syria. Lauer fretted: "Is there an escape hatch for the President? Is there a way for him to save face politically if this vote goes against him?" [Listen to the audio]

Lauer's concern was prompted by Todd observing: "[The White House is]
very concerned, Matt, because it's not just that they believe they need
Congress on this and they want to punish Assad and all of the Syria
policy, but they realize a loss like this could be politically crippling
to him [Obama] all over Washington on all the different battles that
he's got coming in the next six months."

On Sunday's Meet the Press,
Todd argued that Democrats in Congress opposing military action in
Syria were more "rational and principled" than Republicans voicing
identical opposition.

Responding to Lauer, Todd suggested ways in which Obama could "save face" on the issue:

Well, there's a couple of ways. We've already heard John Kerry, you
know, the ultimatum, right? That's another way of sort of buying
time....if they know they're going to lose, a call to wait for the
United Nations investigation to be complete, to have that full report
come out. That's one way to delay....just finding a way to pass
something in both houses, even if they don't match. They don't ever try
to bring them together, but then they can say, "Well, we've got some
support to do something."

Lauer then wondered how Obama would best be able to persuade the
public: "Do you think the centerpiece of the President's comments will
be, 'If we let Syria get away with it, watch out for Iran'?"

Sounding more like a White House operative than a journalist, Todd replied:

I do not think the Iran argument is going to be effective with the
public. However, I think the Iran argument is effective politically on
Capitol Hill. You can bring in Israel, "If you consider yourself a
pro-Israel member of Congress, then you should vote for this."

I think the patriotism pitch, Matt, that we heard the other day from
the President, "It is America's duty to do this whether we like it or
not," that's what the public's gonna hear Tuesday night.

In a report just prior to the segment, White House correspondent Peter
Alexander declared there was "new urgency" in Obama's push for military
action, noting that he was "Facing one of the most crucial weeks of his
presidency..."

Here is a full transcript of Lauer's September 9 exchange with Todd:

7:04AM ET

MATT LAUER: Chuck Todd is NBC's chief White House correspondent and political director. Chuck, good morning to you.

CHUCK TODD: Good morning, sir.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Making His Case; President Looks to Sway Congress, Public on Syria Plan]

LAUER: The President is going to be taking his case directly to the
American public over the next couple of days, a series of interviews
with the networks, a speech to the nation. He's going to be talking to
members of Congress. How worried are they?

TODD: They're very worried. And they're treating – if you look at this
public relations campaign that's gone on over the last 48 hours and
what you're seeing in the next 48 hours. Just look at what they're doing
today, they're rolling out Hillary Clinton to say something. She's
coming to the White House for another event, but she's now going to talk
about Syria because they're trying to lobby Democrats. You've got the
President doing all these interviews today, then the speech to the
nation tomorrow. You had Denis McDonough doing what he did yesterday and
all of the Sunday talk shows.

They're very concerned, Matt, because it's not just that they believe
they need Congress on this and they want to punish Assad and all of the
Syria policy, but they realize a loss like this could be politically
crippling to him all over Washington on all the different battles that
he's got coming in the next six months.

LAUER: Well, as you say that, let me ask you this, if the numbers –
and they're all over the place, but they seem to be leaning heavily
against an air strike in Congress, in terms of the votes that are
already lined up – is there an escape hatch for the President? Is there a
way for him to save face politically if this vote goes against him?

TODD: Well, there's a couple of ways. We've already heard John Kerry,
you know, the ultimatum, right? That's another way of sort of buying
time. The French have already said – who are supposedly going to be with
the United States if an attack happens – have said, "Hey, you know
what? Let's delay a little bit any attack, let's wait for the United
Nations." So if they know they're going to lose, a call to wait for the
United Nations investigation to be complete, to have that full report
come out. That's one way to delay.

The other option here, Matt, that I wouldn't be surprised, that I
would – is just finding a way to pass something in both houses, even if
they don't match. They don't ever try to bring them together, but then
they can say, "Well, we've got some support to do something."

LAUER: But real quickly, this final push to change opinion in Congress
and in the American public. Do you think the centerpiece of the
President's comments will be, "If we let Syria get away with it, watch
out for Iran"?

TODD: I do not think the Iran argument is going to be effective with
the public. However, I think the Iran argument is effective politically
on Capitol Hill. You can bring in Israel, "If you consider yourself a
pro-Israel member of Congress, then you should vote for this."

I think the patriotism pitch, Matt, that we heard the other day from
the President, "It is America's duty to do this whether we like it or
not," that's what the public's gonna hear Tuesday night.

LAUER: Alright, Chuck Todd. Chuck, thanks as always.

TODD: You got it.

-- Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow Kyle Drennen on Twitter.

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